Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church in Carondolet

One of the oldest buildings in St. Louis, MO is tucked into a tree-lined street in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis, MO. Originally, Carondelet was an independent city. In 1860, the city of Carondelet built a market where vendors could sell their wares. In 1871, Carondelet became part of the City of St. Louis. In the 1880s, a black congregation bought the building for an African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church – Courtesy of Geo St. Louis

The congregation added the tower in the front of the building in 1900. Unlike a lot of older buildings in the city, this building at 225 Bowen Street has been maintained in good condition. Unfortunately, it was boarded up in March 2013. Hopefully, the building will not fall into disuse.

The congregation also added a parsonage in 1907. It too was boarded up although in 2012. It appears to have been well maintained. Let’s hope that the congregation is able to put the buildings back in use.

Richard Allen, one of the founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Richard Allen formed the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in 1816. Allen and Absalom Jones formed the Free African Society in Philadelphia in 1787. Allen and Jones were Methodist ministers who were accepted by the Methodist Church but limited to ministering to black congregations.

Allen and Jones formed the church for African-Americans in 1816 although they did not intend to discriminate. The African in the name meant that the church was formed by ministers of African descent but Allen and Jones welcomed members of all nationality.

Richard Allen was the first Bishop of the A.M.E. Church. Quinn Chapel was one of the earliest A.M.E. churches in St. Louis. Carondolet was home to an African-American community who must have been blessed to have a church so close. Segregation has been a problem in St. Louis for most of its history.

Let’s hope this historic building is saved and restored to use soon. We don’t need anymore lost history. You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page, Twitter profile and Google+ page.